A surprising 30 to 50% of RPA projects initially fail. Business owners are often left wondering what went wrong. To help you avoid common pitfalls, we created a list of 4 reasons RPA efforts fail and how to avoid them.

#1: Not selecting the right processes to automate.

If you’re a first-time RPA implementer, you’re likely excited to improve your workflow. And that’s great. You just need to make sure that you’re automating processes that will have the greatest impact on productivity.

Focus on automating simple tasks that employees do on a daily basis or that take a long time to complete. Things like data entry, social media posts, and payroll are great places to start. Automating these tedious tasks frees up your team’s time. That way they can focus on tackling more critical projects.

“Implementation challenges can be serious, but proactive planning up front can reduce or eliminate them.” ―Deloitte

#2: Attempting deployment too fast.

It’s easy to get hyper-focused on using RPA to increase ROI. Sure, you want to increase your profitability. But you also have think about your current resources and capabilities. Can your IT department take on a project right now? Is your network equipped to handle an implementation? How will you measure an RPA project’s success?

Rushing into deployment is a risky move. One that will likely lead to frustration and wasted resources. Creating an implementation plan will help you achieve success. Get your business strategy team and IT department involved in its creation. And be sure to maintain an open line of communication throughout the entire project.

#3: Neglecting your RPA software after deployment.

Even after an RPA implementation, there’s still work to do. RPA software requires ongoing maintenance so that it continues to run smoothly.

Robots never deviate from their configured algorithms. But software interfaces, data formats, and company processes change. To make sure your RPA software continues to work in your environment, you need to make sure your business strategy team maintains it.

#4: Relying only on RPA.

While RPA is a helpful tool, it’s not the only tool. There are lots of productivity-enhancing solutions on the market. You should use RPA software as a part of your overall process optimization strategy. Not the entirety of it.

Take the time to analyze your business processes and determine where automation will make the most impact. You can also enlist the help of a provider skilled in RPA implementations. They’ll be able to provide guidance how to maximize your ROI using RPA software.

“It’s important to recognize and mitigate these [common issues] in order to facilitate the success of the organization’s RPA program.” —Ernst & Young

Deploying RPA in your business.

You need to consider every aspect of an RPA implementation before you undertake one. Evaluate the risks, rewards, and what resources you’ll need to maintain your RPA software. And remember, if at first you don’t succeed in your implementations, try again. There’s always a lesson to learn and apply to your future digital transformation efforts.